Cultivation through Skin Making

The two exchanged glances...

Xiao Mingrong suddenly raised her hand and said, "Send orders to station three thousand troops permanently in Cold Smoke Town."

After speaking, she looked at the incumbent official and sternly said, "If my adoptive father loses even a hair, I will exterminate your entire clan! If he remains safe, you will have achieved great deeds!"

The official was so frightened that he directly knelt down.

The Commandery Princess of Crimson Fire exuded overwhelming might.

Xiao Mingrong fixed her gaze on Song Yan and said, "Adoptive Father, Rong'Er has some matters to handle, but will visit you again once things settle down."

Song Yan smiled and nodded.

He did not care about the fame of the Commandery Princess of Crimson Fire, but the feeling of repaying kindness with kindness and the notion that good deeds would be rewarded made him feel comfortable, aiding the furtherance of his virtuous thoughts.

...

...

Autumn passed, the cold winter...

Another year of snow fall.

Song Yan had just closed the door when it was pushed open by a person clad in black, who rushed in, simultaneously removing their hood to reveal a young girl's face.

The girl looked delightedly at him and called out, "Adoptive Father, Iron Girl has come to see you."

Seeing her attire, Song Yan knew this little lass was a person of character, unwilling to be ensnared by power and force, thus seeking a "moral anchor" with him.

Very quickly...

Iron Girl adeptly boiled water while Song Yan sliced meat, and after stir-frying, began preparing noodles.

This was the way they had interacted many years ago.

Soon, the noodles were on the table.

The two ate the noodles.

Iron Girl washed the dishes, and the water boiled.

She poured the water into a wooden basin, squatted down, and removed Song Yan's shoes, rolled up his pants, and then started washing his feet.

While washing, she softly said, "Adoptive Father is different from others.

After I became the Commandery Princess of Crimson Fire, everyone respected and feared me, but only Adoptive Father... still treats me with the original heart.

Everyone thinks about what they can gain from me, only Adoptive Father wants nothing.

I'm tired, so I wish to spend some days with Adoptive Father.

Adoptive Father... you don't dislike me, do you?"

Song Yan shook his head.

Iron Girl raised her hands from the hot water and said, "These feet-washing hands are already stained with blood and lives, some of them innocent, dying unjustly. But I'm unable to distinguish and cannot hold back, all I can do is kill... kill... kill... kill kill kill!!!"

Her words grew increasingly fierce and dark, her eyes filled with ferocity.

Until a large hand gently patted her head and rubbed it.

Iron Girl then temporarily eased out of her murderous intent and looked up at the man's face.

Song Yan said gently, "Then what are you doing now? Aren't you being filial? Not trying hard to make the land peaceful? Are these not good deeds? People have evil thoughts, but also good ones; both exist, thus human one becomes. Why be troubled by this?"

Iron Girl paused, showing a thoughtful expression in her eyes, and said, "Adoptive Father speaks rightly."

Song Yan suddenly said, "You haven't used your fire, have you?"

Iron Girl said, "The fire was obtained from a peculiar person who called themselves the Holy Fire Sect. The fire seed came from afar, those who worship fire can undergo rebirth... I naturally also worshipped, hence acquired the fire seed."

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.

Song Yan said, "Stop worshipping it, although I'm just a butcher, I know that gains without pains have problems."

Iron Girl nodded.

The father and daughter spent days together before Iron Girl bid farewell to Song Yan.

Here she was Iron Girl, but once she left, she became the Commandery Princess of Crimson Fire again.

Not long after she left, a shadow appeared in Cold Smoke Meat Shop.

The shadow was large and burly, with snowflakes falling upon it as if landing on heated iron, dispersing into steam, yet when the shadow slightly restrained itself, everything seemed ordinary.

Song Yan turned and looked at Princess Xi.

Princess Xi looked deeply at him then handed over two storage bags, speaking in a muffled voice, "Master, one contains Nine Bloods of the Dragon Elephant, all essence blood. The other contains a large amount of Profound Jade for your cultivation."

Song Yan said, "You ask nothing?"

Princess Xi replied, "Ningxin Old Ancestor specifically instructed."

Song Yanqi said, "Ningxin Old Ancestor?"

Princess Xi said, "Ningxin Old Ancestor is different from other ancestors, she has a special connection with the Yin Yang Profound Dragon, can recognize people, discern affairs, know fortune and misfortune, foresee future. Ningxin Old Ancestor specifically said to ask nothing about anything."

Song Yan took the two storage bags and said, "Understood."

Until this moment, the Formless Ancient Race had continually invested in him, allowing him not to risk personally seeking resources, thoroughly escaping the "search of the Demon Monk" and could cultivate quietly, truly offering timely aid in distress, sparking thoughts to further bind with the Formless Ancient Race.

All the Ancient Race was on the same boat, he bore the bloodline of the Formless Ancient Race, entangled in this race's great cause and effect, so why not forge closer ties?

The words "Dao Companion" burst forth from his mind.

The family gathering fifty years later had among its major purposes the arranging of Dao Companions for the younger generation.

Originally, he refused because he felt "Dao Companion" needed mutual fondness.

But now he felt "Dao Companion" might as well be "mutual benefit," if "mutual benefit" then how much emotion is necessary? Such alliance is you use me; I use you, demonstrating reciprocal value for firmness. As for desires, does the Formless Ancient Race fear not finding women?

Since this arrangement could advance his relationship with the Formless Ancient Race further, making them his complete shield, why not embrace it?

On the other hand, he had received so many benefits from them, held hands short, ate lips tight, having received he could not simply walk away. When deed and action were required, he would surely act.

Song Yan hefted the two storage bags and suddenly said, "Aunt Xi, convey to the Clan Leader that Snow Country's fire is used for sacrifice, the target of sacrifice unknown to which demon. It's not meant for cultivation. Recently... it's been quite rampant; even where I live has seen penetration."